Licensing guide · New Brunswick

How to Become a Heavy Duty Equipment Technician in New Brunswick

Last checked 4 sources checkedNOC 72401

Do you need certification?

Certification is voluntary

Heavy duty equipment technician is a voluntary trade in New Brunswick. You can work in the trade without a certificate.

Protected titles
Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Heavy Duty Equipment Technician — Red Seal”

From gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/designated..., checked October 11, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Voluntary certification See the source
Routes
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $475
  • 2 steps without a listed fee
  • Listed time: 236.8 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)

  1. Get a job in the trade with an employer.

    Source
    “Apprenticeship — obtain employment and register as an apprentice, successfully complete all apprenticeship program requirements such as the on-the-job, technical training requirements and examinations to achieve a Diploma of Apprenticeship and Certificate of Qualification.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/apprentice...

  2. Register as an apprentice with the apprenticeship authority.

    Source
    “Apprenticeship — obtain employment and register as an apprentice, successfully complete all apprenticeship program requirements such as the on-the-job, technical training requirements and examinations to achieve a Diploma of Apprenticeship and Certificate of Qualification.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/apprentice...

  3. Complete the on-the-job and technical training requirements of the apprenticeship program.

    Time: 7,200 days
    Time source
    “A New Brunswick Diploma of Apprenticeship and a Certificate of Qualification are awarded upon successful completion of 7,200 hours of on the job and technical training and the final examination.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/designated...
    Source
    “Apprenticeship — obtain employment and register as an apprentice, successfully complete all apprenticeship program requirements such as the on-the-job, technical training requirements and examinations to achieve a Diploma of Apprenticeship and Certificate of Qualification.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/apprentice...

  4. Successfully complete the examinations required by the apprenticeship program.

    Source
    “Apprenticeship — obtain employment and register as an apprentice, successfully complete all apprenticeship program requirements such as the on-the-job, technical training requirements and examinations to achieve a Diploma of Apprenticeship and Certificate of Qualification.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/apprentice...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $475

One-time fees listed for Trained in Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Application $25 5%
Exams $450 95%
One-time total $475 100%

2 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 1 step without a listed fee

  1. Work in New Brunswick using a valid out-of-province Certificate of Qualification or Red Seal endorsement.

    Source
    “Tradespeople with a valid out-of-province Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) or Red Seal endorsement can work in New Brunswick using their existing credential.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr...

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • Listed one-time fees: $550
  • 3 steps without a listed fee

  1. Get a job in the trade and gain local experience.

    Source
    “Start by getting a job in your trade and gaining local experience then, contact Skilled Trades NB to see if you can challenge the certification exam or if the apprenticeship program is the better path for your success.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr...

  2. Contact Skilled Trades NB to find out whether to challenge the certification exam or enter the apprenticeship program.

    Source
    “Start by getting a job in your trade and gaining local experience then, contact Skilled Trades NB to see if you can challenge the certification exam or if the apprenticeship program is the better path for your success.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr...

  3. Have your international education and work experience reviewed to identify credit toward New Brunswick certification.

    Source
    “Assessment of your experience: Your international education and work experience are reviewed to identify credit toward NB certification.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr...

  4. Develop and complete a learning plan with Skilled Trades NB and your employer to address differences in language, terminology, safety, and trade practices and standards.

    Source
    “Personalized learning plan: Develop and complete a plan is created with Skilled Trades NB and your employer to address differences in language, terminology and safety and trade practices and standards.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr...

  5. Attend training or challenge the certification exam when ready.

    Source
    “Training and certification exam: Attend training or challenge the exam when ready.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr...

Listed fees for this route

One-time total listed: $550

One-time fees listed for Trained outside Canada, by type
Fee typeAmountShare
Assessment $200 36%
Exams $350 64%
One-time total $550 100%

3 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Experience

  • Applicants must complete 7,200 hours of on-the-job and technical training and pass the final examination to receive a Diploma of Apprenticeship and a Certificate of Qualification.

    Source
    “A New Brunswick Diploma of Apprenticeship and a Certificate of Qualification are awarded upon successful completion of 7,200 hours of on the job and technical training and the final examination.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/designated...

  • A person with the equivalent of 10,800 hours of practical experience in the occupation may apply to challenge the certification examination.

    Source
    “A person who has gained the equivalent of 10,800 hours of practical experience in the heavy duty equipment technician occupation may apply to challenge the certification examination.”
    gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/designated...

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

Tradespeople with a valid out-of-province Certificate of Qualification or Red Seal endorsement can work in New Brunswick using their existing credential without first obtaining a New Brunswick Certificate of Qualification.

Source
“Tradespeople with a valid out-of-province Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) or Red Seal endorsement can work in New Brunswick using their existing credential.”
gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr...

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 72401, Heavy-duty equipment mechanics. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in New Brunswick and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
New Brunswick $20.00 $29.00 $40.20 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $23.87 $37.12 $55.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in New Brunswick

Wages in every province and territory

Heavy duty equipment technicians in other provinces and territories

Regulated in all 12 other jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare heavy duty equipment technician licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 11, 2026.

  1. List of designated occupations - gnb.ca gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/designated... · fetched October 11, 2026
  2. The apprenticeship and occupational certification program - gnb.ca gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/apprentice... · fetched October 11, 2026
  3. Fees and forms - gnb.ca gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/fees-forms... · fetched October 11, 2026
  4. Internationally and nationally trained or certified trades people - gnb.ca gnb.ca/en/topic/education-training/apprenticeship-trades/trained-tr... · fetched October 11, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as a heavy duty equipment technician in New Brunswick?

No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in New Brunswick. Certification is managed by the New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

Which exams are required?

certification examination, final examination, Interprovincial standards (Red Seal) examination.

Getting Licensed? Get Your Resume Ready Too

Nainly pairs expert resume assessment with a done-for-you career marketing campaign, so your profile keeps reaching decision-makers while you work through the licensing steps.

Schedule a Call

Free consultation. No commitment.